Collapsible sign structure for vehicles



311m 3, 1958 M. w. NELSON ETAL 3 COLLAPSIBLE SIGN STRUCTURE FOR VEHICLES Filed Feb. 6, 195a WWI L INVENTORS. Mf/es MA Ne/son 00/7/6/ E.

United States Patent coLLAPsinLE SIGN STRUCTURE FOR VEHICLES Miles W. Nelson, Kansas City, and Daniel E. Thomson, Grandview, M0.

Application February 6, 1956, Serial No. 563,653

3 Claims. (Cl. 40-129) This invention relates to signboards adapted to be mounted on such vehicles as automobiles, trucks and the like, and refers more particularly to an improved signboard of this character which can be collapsed when not in use.

Many business people, particularly those engaged in such trades as plumbing, television repair work and various maintenance and reconditioning activities, are interested in advertising to the public both their business address and the lines which they handle. Customarily they do this by applying the advertising permanently on the side or back panels of the vehicle used in the business. However, there are at least two dis-advantages to this procedure. First, the advertising remains on the vehicle and is visible at all times, thus detracting from enjoyment of the use of the vehicle for pleasure rather than business purposes. Secondly, the advertising is not as conspicuous as it might be due to its location at a relatively low level on the vehicle.

An important object of the present invention is to pro vide a sign carrying attachment for vehicles in which the sign is normally displayed on the top of the vehicle in an upright condition, it being possible however to lower the sign to a flat or collapsed position when so desired. The advantages of such an arrangement will be evident. When the sign is upright it extends well above the top of the vehicle and thus draws attention to the subject matter displayed thereon. However, when it becomes necessary or desirable to run the vehicle into a building entrance having a low clearance the sign can be, by easy manipulation, displaced to a flat or lowered condition near to and parallel with the roof. Likewise, the sign can be lowered at times when for personal reasons it is not the wish of the user or owner to call attention to the business purpose served by the vehicle.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a sign carrying attachment of the character described which can be mounted on the vehicle without damage to the finish.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and highly effective arrangement for permitting raising and lowering of the signboard when desired, which includes means for positively locking 'the signboard in its raised or upright position. It is, in this connection, a feature of the invention that the sign is self-locking when it reaches the upright position, locking elements being provided which engage with one another only when the sign is placed in the upright position. In the preferred embodiment disengagement of the locking means is accomplished by lifting the sign a short distance after which it can be turned down to assume a fiat position adjacent the vehicle roof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel interconnection between the signboard and its supporting frame which is extremely simple in character but which effectively maintains the sign in an upright condition at high speeds. A feature of the invention resides in the specific arrangement of the interconnection which ice makes it possible to collapse or lower the sign with a minimum of effort.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vehicle sign of the character described which is inexpensive to manufacture yet capable of withstanding severe and rugged use, and which requires during its life a minimum of maintenance.

(Ether and further objects together with the features of novelty appurtenant thereto will appear during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, which is to be read in conjunction with and forms a part of the instant specification and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts in the various views;

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a sign constructed according to the invention, the sign being shown in its upright position and the entire assembly being secured in plac on the roof or" a typical vehicle, the roof being broken away to indicate length;

Fig. 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows (the vehicle roof not being shown) and illustrating the raised and lowered positions of the signboard;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view showing the connection between the sign crossbar and the supporting frame members; and

Fig. 5 is a view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 4 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing, at It is indicated generally the roof or top of a typical vehicle such as a truck or automobile. The roof is provided on each side with the conventional drain gutters or troughs 11 extending fore and aft.

Mounted on the roof by means later to be described is a sign constructed according to our invention, the signboard being indicated generally at 12. In its preferred form the signboard is provided with front and back panels 13 and 14, each of which consists of a sheet of metal having its four edges bent back parallel with the main body to provide border flanges 13a, 14a. As is perhaps best seen in Figs. 1 and 3, panels 13 and 14 are disposed on opposite sides of and secured to a rod or crossbar 15 which extends to either side of the panels. Any suitable means can be utilized for securing the panels to the crossbar, for example, welding. Supplementary braces 16 are also provided, the braces being welded to the crossbar and extending diagonally upward and inwardly between the panels to join with a connecting crossbrace 17. The panels are secured to the brace members 16 and 17 in any suitable fashion, spot welding being the best method we have found.

The main sign panels 13 and 14 can be surmounted by an extension panel 18 comprising a single sheet having its lower portion disposed between the main panels and secured thereto in any desired manner. Again, we prefer spot welding.

To support the signboard on the car roof, there is provided a frame structure which includes the two spaced parallel frame members 19. Each of the frame members 19 preferably comprises an angle be-am disposed with one leg horizontal and the other leg rising vertically thereabove along the inner edge. The frame members 19 are tied together at each end by tie-rods 2n, the ends of the rods being threaded and locking nuts being provided to secure the tie-rods to the frame members. The tie rods 24 are each covered with a sleeve Ztla of a resilent material, for example, rubber.

The frame assembly is supported on the roof of the vehicle at four corners by rubber vacuum cups 21. These cups are conventional in construction, having con- 'of buckles 24.

- ing the roof.

cave cavities in the underside which, when the cups are pressed down and again released set up a vacuum causing the cup to tightly adhere to the roof surface. Eachcup is provided with atop screw 22 whichis'received in a suitable aperture in its frame member 19 and can be screwed down to secure the cup thereto. The cups are supplemented by tie-down belts 23 on each side of the frame, the belts being adjustable in length by means Belts 23 are connected at one end with U-shaped loops 25 secured to the respective frame members 19. The other end of each belt is provided'v/ith a hook member 26 preferably coated with a soft and pliable rubber-like material. .These books are engaged with the roof drain gutters 11.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the

crossbar on which signboard 12 is mounted extends at each end through vertically elongated apertures or guides 27 (Fig. .5), provided in the upstanding legs of the frame members 19. The crossbar is received in the apertures in a loose fit so that it may be raised a limited distance as shown in Fig. 4; Under normal circumstances the bar is cradled at the bottom of the apertures due' to its own weight and the weight of the signboard structure. To lock the sighboard in the vertical or upright position illustrated we have provided locking elements in the form of right angle extensions 15a at the ends of the crossbar 15. It will be noted that these extensions are directed downwardly and that when the signboard is in its upright position and the crossbar 15 is resting upon the bottom of the apertures or cradles 26 they are received in apertures 28 formed in the horizontal leg of each frame member 19. The extensions or locking elements 15a are provided with a length which insures that when the crossbar 15 is raised in apertures 27 the ends of the locking elements will be lifted free of the apertures .28 so that the resistance to turning of the crossbar about its own axis is removed.

When the sign is upright the crossbar 15 is retained in its down or normal position at the bottom of apertures 27 by means of removable locking pins 29 extending transversely below the horizontal leg of the frame members 19. In the illustrated embodiment pins 29 are shown as conventional cotter 'pins having an eye to which is connected a chain 30. The chains 39 are in eachv case secured by any suitable means, for example, rivets 31 to the frame members.

The'manner of operation of the invention is believed evident from the foregoing description. To install the complete. assembly on the roof of a vehicle the frame is placed thereon with suction or vacuum cups 21 engag- Preferably the frame members 19 are aligned with the sides of the vehicle so that the sign- 7 board 12 is disposed normal to the normal line of travel of the vehicle, that is with the panels 13 and 14 facing front and back. Sufiicient downward pressure is exerted on cups 21 to partially exhaust the air from the cavities therein causing them to adhere tightly to the roof surface. Hooks 26 are engaged with the roof gutters 11 and the belts 23 drawn up tight. It will be noted that the belts aid in maintaining a vacuum in cups 21 by exerting a continuous downward pull on the frame members.

It will be assumed that initially signhoard 12 is in its upright position, the locking elements 15;: extending into the apertures 23 and pins 29 being positioned therein as seen in Fig.4. In this condition the signbcard is firmly supported in the uprightpositiou. The apertures 28 confine thelocking elements Errand serve as stop means preventing rotation of the crossbar 15 (to which the signboard issecured) in either direction about its longitudinal axis. Accidental lifting of the locking elements out of their apertures is prevented by the pins 29 and thus the signboard will remain upright despite severe jolts or bumps occurring during the travel of the vehicle over rough terrain, Since the locking elements remain at all times engaged with the stop means, there is no possibility of accidental falling or collapsing of the signboard. V

When at any time it is desired to lower the signboard and thus reduce the over-all height of the vehicle and sign assembly, it can be accomplished easily and quickly.

a First the pins 29 are withdrawn, from'the locking ele- 'ments 15a. The signboard 12 is then manually lifted (as shown by the arrow 32in Fig.3) sufficiently to clear the ends of the locking elements 15a from their apertures 28. The lifted position is illustrated in the broken lines in Fig. 4. With the locking element removed from contact with their stop means the signboard can then be laid over on one side as shown in Fig. 3 to a position near and substantially parallel with the roof of the vehicle with the sign resting on the sleeve 20a of the back rod 29.

To again erect the signboard it is manually lifted to an upright position with the locking elements 15:: centered over the apertures 28 and then lowered to engage the locking elements in the apertures. Pins 29 which are retained in convenient access by chains 30 are then reinserted and the sign is ready for use.

We have found by actual experience that a sign constructed according to the preceding description is well able to withstand wind loads developing from a vehicle speed of better than sixty miles per hour and that there is little or no vibration noise. The rubber mountings for the frame provided by cups 21 absorb the vibrations in wind load and also act as shock absorbers when the vehicle passes over bumps and rough spots. The'belts 23, cups 21 and rubber coated books 26 are the only elements in actual contact with the finish of the vehicle and since 'they'are all composed of soft and resilient or readily pliable material there -is little danger'of abrading the finish.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one Well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the method structure. 7 It will be understood that certain features and sub combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is Within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the ,in-'

" vention without departing from the scope thereof, it is elongated guides associated with said frame members,

one guide at each frame member, a crossbar extending transversely between said frame members having portions near each endreceived in and loosely supported by said guides, a signboard secured to said crossbar, a locking element connected with said crossbar at least at one end;

stop means associatedwith said frame and normally engaging said locking element to prevent rotation of said crossbar about its longitudinal axis when said sign is in an upright position relative the roof, said locking element and stop means constructed and arranged to'disengage from one another when the sign and crossbar are displaced upwardly to displace the said portions of the latter upwardly in said guides thereby permitting the crossbar to turn in the guides and the sign to be laid flat near the roof of the vehicle.

2. A collapsible sign structure for mounting on the roof of a vehicle comprising a frame including a pair-of spaced parallel frame members, means for securing said frame to the roof of a vehicle, a crossbar extending transversely between said frame members and through vertically elongated apertures in each frame member, said crossbar normally being cradled at the bottoms of said apertures but movable vertically therein, a signboard secured to said crossbar, at least one downwardly extending locking element secured to said crossbar, means associated with said frame normally engaging said locking element to prevent turning of said crossbar about its longitudinal axis when said signboard is in an upright position relative said roof, said means constructed and arranged to disengage from said locking element upon the upward displacement of said crossbar in said apertures thereby to permit turning of said crossbar about its longitudinal 6 axis and movement of the signboard to a position near and parallel to the roof.

3. A sign structure as in claim 2 including means for releasably locking said crossbar against upward movement in said apertures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 838,937 Batchelder Dec. 18, 1906 1,637,305 Hendsch July 26, 1927 1,931,016 Bridges Oct. 17, 1933 2,613,463 Transue Oct. 14, 1952 2,667,002 Clore Jan. 26, 1954 2,718,080 Eaton -a Sept. 20, 1955 

